Automatic gate opening or closing apparatus.



. w. H.- HOUDLETTB. AUTOMATIC GATE OPENING 0R cnosme APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 22.190}.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I0 10mm.

PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904."

PATENTBUMAMA, 1904.

W. H. HOUDLETTE. ,AUTO'MA'I'IG GATE OPENING O-R CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MARIN. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

WITIJEE. 5 2E C Patented May 24, 1904.

1 -UN1 TE D "STATES PAT- N -1 WILLIAM H. tene -Em, or? WAREHAM,MASSACHUSETTS.

. AUTOMATIC GATE OPENING QR cLosjme. AQPPIAJR'ATUS- fS- PEGIFICATIONforming a of L ettel s Patent No. 760,792, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed Mareh 22, 1904,

To all whjonft it may} concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HOUDLETTE,f

*a c tizenof the United States, residing in Wareham, in the county ofPlymouth and State,

of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new andnseful Improvements inAutomatic Gate;

. 'Openingor Closing Apparatus, of which the;

- following a specification. I This invention relates to that class of'appa-E ratus in which the gates are opened by mech-.

anism which is set in operation by the weight of the horseor vehicle, orboth, approaching;

the gates and in which the gates are closed by the returning of saidmechanism to i'ts'nor, mal position; and the-invention relatesparticularly toj apparatus comprised in said class" in which'the gatesare swung up vertically, and apart forthe purpose of providing a clearand open driveway.

The nature ofjthe invention is fully described below and illustrated inthe-accompafl 'nying drawings, which? I Figure 1 is a plan view of mygate opening and closing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central; longitudinalvertical sction'of the same. Fig. '3 is an-enlargedldetail, in sideelevation, of a, portion'of thesame Fig. 4 is a cross vertical sectiontaken on line 4, Fig. 2. Fig-5 is a similar section showing thegatesraised ori opened. In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the gates are shownin their-normal closed position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts. 5 Q

The frame of the device-that is, the-portion which supports themechanism which sustains and operates the gatescomprises abase,juprights, and preferably top rails The base comprises thep'arallellongitudinal side bars 5 A, each of which is'provided with aninwardly-extending flange A, end bars B, and a pair of central parallelcross-bars ,0, set a short distance apart, as illustrated in Fig. 2/ Theentire base is supported by and preferably set in the ground so that itsupper edge is substantially flush with the surface. Supported by thebase are the four corner-posts D and the approximately centrally-locatedpairs of posts E, one pair being supported by each sidebar A. In .orderto produce sufiicicnt stability and rigidity in the frame, I

the side bar.

Serialll'o. 199,455. No model l) i prefer to provide horizontal toprails F, which are supported by the posts D and E, and the end rails H,which-are supported by the pairs of posts D.

The entire frame above described is to be located in most instances atthe entrance of a driveway, the said frame extending into and out fromthe said entrance, so that the central portion of the frame is-at thegateway.

Supportedby the base of this frame are the two parts of a platform organg-plank. The

part L of this platform is hinged at its outer,

end at Z to one of the end rails B, and the opposite end thereof ishinged 'at m to the part L, the two parts being inclosed by the sidesand ends of the base. Theseparts L L are provided on their under sideswith binders N and P, the binders N being next the side edges 2 and thebinders-P-being longitudinally and centrally disposed. The binders N arenearly of the thickness of the portions of the side bars A which extendabove-the flanges A and are adapted to rest-upon said flanges when theparts LL are level, the bindersP resting on the cross-bars (J. N ear"the outer end and on the under sidetof each of one of the pair ofbinders N, secured'to the under side of the'portion or platform L, is aroller or wheel S, which rests atall times on the flange A of At eachside'of the platform L thereis'pivoted at a to the post E which isnearest that platform a lever b, said pivot extending from said post Eacross a slot or recess (see dotted lines 0 in Fig. 2) into the bracketor housing 03, whereby the pivot is protected from the weather. Theouter end of this lever extends into the space f between the post D atthat side and an upright e, the downward movement of said lever beinglimited by the stop g. This lever, which is provided with asuitably-adjustable weight ll), has its inner end pivotally connected atz' to a link it, whose lower end is pivotally connected at n to asuitable bracket q, secured to the upperside of the platform L near itsinner edge.-. From each side edge of this platform L, near the bracketq, there extends outward horizontally a bar 7", to which is pivotallysecured the lower end of a link t, the upper end of said link beingpivotally secured ,to the knuckle u of a plate 4),, which. is sec r dto. the upper side o a shaft w, Said shaft being preferably but notnecessarily rectangular in section and being supported at its oppositeends by the ends of the pin y, (see dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3,)

WllOSB. central portion is squared, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to fitinto the said shaft w. This pin is supported by and turns in the pair ofposts Eon that side of the apparatus.

It will be understood that all the parts 6, d, e, g, h, is, g, r, t, u,e, w, and y are duplicated on opposite sides of the device.

Rigidly secured to and supported by the two shafts w are theinwardly-extending gates R. Directly under the bars 7 the side bars Aare provided with notches T of size and shape to receive said bars. I

The normal position of the device is that indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 4, in which the two platforms L and L are inclined upward from theirouter ends, so that their inner ends are lifted above the base, beingheld in such position by the counterbalances or weights it, which holddown the long arms of the levers b. When a horse or vehicle moves ontoeither of the platforms, his or itsweight presses down that platform andby means of the pivotal connection on the. other platform, the wheels Srolling on the flanges A until the platforms are lowered into ahorizontal line and are supported practically throughout their entirelength by said flanges A and the crossbars C. When the weight of thevehicle or horse thus forces down the platforms, the

v link k lowers the short arms of the levers b,

and their long arms leave the. rests g and swing up between the innersides of the posts D and the uprights 0. At the same time thedownwardly-moving platform L carries the bars 1* down with-it into therecesses or notches T, and the descending bars, by means of the links 6,ope'rateon the knuckles a (which project outward from the shafts w) toproduce a quarter-rotation in an outward direction of said shafts, withthe effect of swinging the two gates R from the normal horizontalposition upward and outward into the vertical position.. (IllustratedinFig. 5.) As the horse or vehicle passes between these upturned gatesonto and off the farther platform the counterbalances h, which are ofcourse lighter than any ordinary Vehicle or horse, operate to return thegates and the parts intermediate thereof and the platforms to theirnormal position.

It will be noticed by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that thereis a space Vbetween the outer end of the platform L and the bar B at that end, thusmaking provision for the spreading of the platforms as they descend.

The horizontal bars F H may be made lighter, if desired, than isillustrated in the drawings or may be omitted altogether, although theiremployment is deemed desirable.

The entire frame, including the base, posts, and top bars. may beconstructed either of wood or metal. and this is also the case asregards the shafts w, the brackets d, and the levers 1). Any method ofstrengthening the inclined platforms may be employed in place of theparts N and P.

While this device is perhaps especially adapted to entrances of thedriveways of suburban, country, and some city residences, it can beemployed in the place of ordinary farm-gates and entrances to courtyardsand other inclosures of various kinds.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gate opening and closing apparatus of the character described, abase adapted to be-supported by the ground; a pair of platforms hingedtogether at their adjacent ends and supported by and within said base; aframe comprising a number of uprights sustained by the base; a pair ofshafts supported by the frame on opposite sides of the platforms nextthe inner hinged ends of said platforms; a pair of gates each rigidlyconnected with one of said shafts; a pair of levers provided withsuitable counterbalances or weights;- and mechanism intermediate of saidlevers and said shafts, whereby the inner or connected ends of the twoplatforms are held normally in a raised position, and said platforms areinclined from their outer ends upward to their inner ends, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a gate opening and closing apparatus of the character described,the base, comprising the side bars A provided with inwardlyextendingflanges A, and the end bars B; the platforms L, L within said base andabove the flanges, said platforms being hinged together at theiradjacent ends, and the platform L being hinged at its outer end to oneof the said end bars; a pair of uprights supported by the side bars onopposite sides of the platforms near their inner hinged edges; thehorizontal shafts w each sustained by and between a pair of saiduprights; a pair of gates each rigidly connected with one of saidshafts; weighted mechanisms connected with the platforms whereby theirinner connected ends are held normally in a raised position; andmechanisms intermediate of the shafts and platforms whereby the downwardmovement of the connected ends of the said platforms imparts aquarter-rotation to each of the shafts, and thereby swings the gatesfrom a normally horizontal and closed position upward and outward into avertical and opened position, substantially as described.

3.v In a gateopening and closing apparatus of the character described,the base, comprising the side bars A provided with theinwardly-extending flanges A, and the end bars B; the platforms L, Lwithin said base and above thetfl anges, said platforms being hingedtogether at their adjacent ends, and the platform L being hinged at itsouter end to one of said end bars; a pair of uprights supported by theside bars on opposite-sides of the platforms, near their inner hingededges; the horizontal shafts w each sustained by and between a pair ofsaid uprights; a pair ofv gates each rigidly connected with one of thesaid shafts; weighted mechanisms connected with the platformswherebytheir inner connected ends are held normally in a raised position; andmechanisms intermediateof the outer edges of the shafts and theplatforms whereby the downward'movement of the connected ends of thesaid platforms imparts a quarter-rotation in an outward direction toeach of the shafts, and

thereby swings the gates from a normally horizontal and closed positionupward and 011i]? ward into a'vertical and openedposition, substantiallyas set forth. r v 4. In a gate opening and closing apparatus of thecharacter described, the base, comprising the side bars A provided withthe inwardly-extending flanges A, and the end bars B; the platforms L, Lwithin said base and above the flanges, said platforms being hingedtogether at their adjacent ends, and the platform L being hinged at itsouter end to one of shafts and the platforms whereby the downwardmovement of the connected ends of the said platforms impartsa'quarter-rotation in an outward direction to each of the shafts, and

thereby swings the gates from a normally horizontal and closed positionupward and outward into a vertical and opened position, the

inside length of the base being suiiicient to.

allow the two platforms L and L to be pressed downward by the weight ofa vehicle or horse,

and extended into line in a horizontal position within the base,substantially as described.

5. In a gate opening and closing apparatus of the character described,the base A, B; the

platforms L, L within said base and hinged together at their inneradjacent ends, the platform L being hinged at its outer end to the base;pairs of uprights E centrally located on v and supported by the base onopposite sides of the connected platforms; the horizontal shafts eachsupported by and between the two uprights constituting a pair, and eachsupporting an inwardly-extending gate; the plates 4) on said shaftsprovided with knuckles M which extend outward from the outer sides ofthe shafts; bars 1' extending outward from one of the platforms near itsinner edge; links connecting said knuckles-and the bars 1"; the

weighted levers I) each pivotally sustained by one of a pair of saiduprights E; and links connecting the short arms of said levers with oneof the platforms, forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM H. HOUDLETTE. Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, A. K. Hoon.

